Strong's Lexicon porneia: Sexual immorality, fornication Original Word: πορνεία Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word "πόρνη" (pornē), meaning "prostitute" or "harlot." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "porneia" is זָנָה (zanah), which also refers to acts of harlotry or unfaithfulness, both physically and spiritually. Usage: In the New Testament, "porneia" is used to describe various forms of sexual immorality, including fornication, adultery, and other illicit sexual practices. It is often used in a broader sense to encompass any sexual activity outside the bounds of a biblically defined marriage between one man and one woman. The term is frequently associated with moral and spiritual unfaithfulness. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, sexual immorality was prevalent and often accepted as part of daily life, including practices such as temple prostitution and extramarital affairs. The early Christian community, however, was called to a higher standard of sexual purity, reflecting the holiness of God. The use of "porneia" in the New Testament underscores the call for believers to live counter-culturally, adhering to the moral teachings of Scripture. HELPS Word-studies 4202 porneía (the root of the English terms "pornography, pornographic"; cf. 4205 /pórnos) which is derived from pernaō, "to sell off") – properly, a selling off (surrendering) of sexual purity; promiscuity of any (every) type. [See also the contrasting term, 3430 /moixeía ("marital unfaithfulness").] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom porneuó Definition fornication NASB Translation fornication (4), fornications (2), immoralities (1), immorality (16), sexual immorality (1), unchastity (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4202: πορνείαπορνεία, πορνείας, ἡ (πορνεύω), the Sept. for תַּזְנוּת, זְנוּת, זְנוּנִים, fornication (Vulg.fornicatio (and (Revelation 19:2)prostitutio)); used a. properly, of illicit sexual intercourse in general (Demosthenes, 403, 27; 433, 25): Acts 15:20, 29; Acts 21:25 (that this meaning must be adopted in these passages will surprise no one who has learned from 1 Corinthians 6:12ff how leniently converts from among the heathen regarded this vice and how lightly they indulged in it; accordingly, all other interpretations of the term, such as of marriages within the prohibited degrees and the like, are to be rejected); Romans 1:29 Rec.; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 6:13, 18; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Revelation 9:21; it is distinguished from μοιχεία in Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; and Galatians 5:19 Rec.; used of adultery ((cf. Hosea 2:2 (4), etc.)), Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9. b. In accordance with a form of speech common in the O. T. and among the Jews which represents the close relationship existing between Jehovah and his people under the figure of a marriage (cf. Gesenius, Thesaurus, i., p. 422{a} following), πορνεία is used metaphorically of the worship of idols: Revelation 14:8; Revelation 17:2, 4; Revelation 18:3; Revelation 19:2; ἡμεῖς ἐκ πορνείας οὐ γεγεννήμεθα (we are not of a people given to idolatry), ἕνα πατέρα ἔχομεν τόν Θεόν, John 8:41 (ἄθεος μέν ὁ ἄγονος, πολύθεος δέ ὁ ἐκ πόρνης, τυφλωττων περί τόν ἀληθῆ πατέρα καί διά τοῦτο πολλούς ἀνθ' ἑνός γονεῖς αἰνιττόμενος, Philo de mig. Abr. § 12; τέκνα πορνείας, of idolaters, Hosea 1:2; (but in John, the passage cited others understand physical descent to be spoken of (cf. Meyer))); of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols, Revelation 2:21. From porneuo; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry -- fornication. see GREEK porneuo Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:32 N-GFSGRK: παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας ποιεῖ αὐτὴν NAS: for [the] reason of unchastity, makes KJV: for the cause of fornication, causeth INT: except on account of sexual immorality causes her Matthew 15:19 N-NFP Matthew 19:9 N-DFS Mark 7:21 N-NFP John 8:41 N-GFS Acts 15:20 N-GFS Acts 15:29 N-GFS Acts 21:25 N-AFS 1 Corinthians 5:1 N-NFS 1 Corinthians 5:1 N-NFS 1 Corinthians 6:13 N-DFS 1 Corinthians 6:18 N-AFS 1 Corinthians 7:2 N-AFP 2 Corinthians 12:21 N-DFS Galatians 5:19 N-NFS Ephesians 5:3 N-NFS Colossians 3:5 N-AFS 1 Thessalonians 4:3 N-GFS Revelation 2:21 N-GFS Revelation 9:21 N-GFS Revelation 14:8 N-GFS Revelation 17:2 N-GFS Revelation 17:4 N-GFS Revelation 18:3 N-GFS Revelation 19:2 N-DFS Strong's Greek 4202 |